Harkey, Leiper weigh the future

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, July 18, 1995

MILWAUKEE - The A's could've used left-hander Dave Leiper and right-hander Mike Harkey Monday night, both designated for assignment earlier this month. But they're not likely to come back to the team.

Leiper cleared waivers Monday and was assigned to Triple-A Edmonton. He has three days to decide whether he'll accept the assignment. "He's anxious to join another major-league team," said general manager Sandy Alderson, "but at this point his options are limited."

For his part, Leiper said, "I felt like they were pretty short with me during a slump, considering the rest of the pitchers on the staff." He left with a 1-1 record and a 3.57 earned-run average, sixth-best on the team.

Harkey, on waivers, has until Wednesday to decide which direction he will go. It's expected he, too, will be assigned to Triple-A, but Alderson said, "As a five-year player he has the right to say, "I'm not going to Edmonton, you have to release me.' "

Leiper and Harkey combined for a 5-7 record with the A's, but both had been shaky. They were also about to start a period of salary incentives that played into the decision to reassign them.

Dave Stewart's short, ugly outing at Milwaukee left the A's with a woefully thin pitching staff. Left-hander Scott Baker, called up from Edmonton Sunday, was set to start Tuesday night's game but had to take over when Stewart failed to get into the third inning.

Instead, the A's are calling up Steve Wojciechowski, a left-hander who is 6-3 with a 3.69 ERA at Edmonton.

Ariel Prieto will start at the Coliseum Wednesday against Detroit's Felipe Lira (6-5). Steve Ontiveros (8-4), scheduled to throw Thursday against David Wells (8-3), is still experiencing stiffness in his right forearm.

ECK HURTING: Dennis Eckersley has soreness in his upper right chest and will be sitting out a few games.

"I can't recall doing anything where I went, "Aaaahhh!' " said Eckersley, who first felt the soreness warming up during the Friday double-header in Cleveland. "It must have been an errant toss.

"It doesn't hurt to throw . . . it's not serious, but it's a pain in the butt," said Eckersley, adding, "Actually, it's a pain in the side."

STEINBACH RESTS: Terry Steinbach, who was leveled in a collision at the plate with Cleveland's Carlos Baerga Sunday, didn't start Monday. "Steiny's tired and a little sore from the collision," said La Russa.

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"Occupational hazard," said Steinbach.

ETC.: Greg Vaughn's second-inning home run was his eighth career shot off Stewart. . . . Dave Nilsson had a career-high five RBIs. . . . Milwaukee's 13 runs and 15 hits tied the season highs against the A's. . . . Stan Javier stole his 14th and 15th bases Monday. Between them, Javier and Rickey Henderson have 33 of the A's 55 steals.&lt;

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